Boots is piloting a scheme in Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire to deliver prescriptions in electric vehicles.

The pharmacy group is adding five electric Renault Kangoo iVans to its fleet used to pick up prescriptions and deliver them to patients’ homes.

A statement explained that this should result in the reduction of its environmental footprint by approximately 22 carbon tonnes per year.

The electric vans will run from Boots’ site in Beeston, with plans to expand to other areas of the country, should the scheme be successful.

Each zero emission vehicle is fitted with Lightfoot Technology, a real-time engine analysis system that provides live coaching to help drivers improve both fuel efficiency and safety.

Nottingham City Transport’s Ultra Low Emission Vehicle Scheme has helped the pilot get off the ground by assisting with the installation of charging stations on the Boots site to power the new vehicles.

Eddie Storr, head of supply chain at Boots UK, said: “Running over 9,500 routes a week with a van fleet of 900, we are continually looking at ways to improve both the efficiency of our service and its environmental impact.

“Over the last six months, we have achieved significant mileage reductions through better route planning and the next step on our journey is to reduce our carbon footprint by introducing zero emission delivery vehicles.”

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